Pick-up, logging truck crash closes highway

October 15, 2012

CRYSTAL FALLS - The Iron County Sheriff's Office said "miraculously" no injuries were reported from a highway traffic crash Friday involving a loaded logging truck and a pickup pulling a horse trailer.

Police said the crash occurred on M-69 near Parks Creek in Mansfield Township.

Iron County Central Dispatch received a 911 call reporting the accident at 12:15 p.m.

Article Photos

This photos show the logs that spilled after a logging truck and loaded horse trailer collided Friday afternoon on M-69 in Iron County. An eastbound truck pulling a horse trailer had pulled from the shoulder of the highway into the path of an eastbound logging truck near Parks Creek in Mansfield Township. The fully-loaded logging truck and pick-up collided and the trailer rolled over, with both the truck and trailer crashing into the woods. (Iron County Sheriff’s Office photos)

This photos show the logs that spilled after a logging truck and loaded horse trailer collided Friday afternoon on M-69 in Iron County. An eastbound truck pulling a horse trailer had pulled from the shoulder of the highway into the path of an eastbound logging truck near Parks Creek in Mansfield Township. The fully-loaded logging truck and pick-up collided and the trailer rolled over, with both the truck and trailer crashing into the woods. (Iron County Sheriff’s Office photos)

Police said an eastbound truck driven by Jeanine Schira, 28, of Stephenson had pulled to the shoulder of the highway to check on a possible mechanical problem with her vehicle. Schira was transporting her horse in the horse trailer.

After getting back in the truck, Schira began to re-enter the eastbound lane of M-69 and pulled into the path of an eastbound logging truck. The fully-loaded truck was driven by Michael Brzoznowski, 35, of Iron Mountain, who police said took evasive action to avoid the Schira vehicle. A front, sideswipe collision resulted, police said.

Police said Brzoznowski lost control of the logging truck, the trailer rolled over and both the truck and trailer crashed into the woods, well off the highway.

Neither driver was hurt, nor was the horse.

Police said M-69 was closed for about an hour until Schira's vehicle and the logs from the logging truck trailer could be removed from the highway.

M-69 was then reopened to single lane traffic until 4 p.m. when the logging truck could be removed from the woods.

Deputies were assisted by the Crystal Falls Fire Rescue, Northstar EMS, Michigan State Police and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.